Preview: Semifinal - Sharks v Cheetahs
The Cheetahs face a massive task this weekend when they travel to Durban to take on the defending champion Sharks in their potentially epic Currie Cup semifinal.
The Sharks managed to edge their rivals from Bloemfontein out of second position on the standings with an impressive bonus point win over the table-topping Lions last week and they will be a formidable prospect at home with all of their Springboks back in the team.
It will be a case of power versus pace as the Sharks will look to bring their immense physicality to bear on their opponents who will look to shift the ball around and play their high-speed game at Kings Park.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské made his intentions clear when he resisted replacing injured lock Francois Uys with proven second row performer Wilhelm Steenkamp and instead named dynamic flank Phillip van der Walt at lock with Steenkamp on the bench.
The Sharks pack is littered with Springboks and they will be keen to assert themselves in the tight exchanges, although they should not lack for pace either with the speedy Ryan Kankowski and Keegan Daniel in the loose trio.
The last time the sides met the Cheetahs ran the Sharked ragged in Bloemfontein in a highly entertaining game, eventually finishing 53-32 victors.
The Cheetahs played some irresistible rugby at times that day but this weekend they face an entirely different prospect and it is hard to say how much can be read into that result.
Facing a full strength Sharks outfit in Durban in a knock-out game is another matter altogether, and Drotské’s charges will have to be at the scintillating best if they are to book a place in the Currie Cup Final next week.
Apart from their all-Springbok front row and loose trio the Sharks also boast three outside backs in their starting XV who have just returned from World Cup duty, and they too will be hungry to show the home crowd what they are capable of.
A possible weakness for the home team may be their veteran midfield pairing. Both players are former Springboks, but neither played in the position that they have been picked in this weekend when they played for South Africa and they will be keen to show that they are not over the hill just yet.
Expect the Cheetahs to be enthusiastic and look to attack any space they are allowed. They will know that it is in matches such as these that reputations are forged and will relish the opportunity to shine on the big stage.
It looks set to be an classic clash of styles and with plenty of both promising and proven talent on display. It may well come down to which side is able to handle the pressure of the occasion best in what is likely to be a memorable match.
Players to Watch:
For the Sharks: There are a host of Springbok stars to choose from. The Du Plessis brothers (Bismarck and Jannie) will want to stamp their authority up front. Willem Alberts also made a huge impact last week when he came on at lock in the second half and he will want to rampage over the advantage line once more. No.8 Ryan Kankowski revelled in the space the Lions gave him last week and he will look to have a similar impact on this game while at the back Patrick Lambie will be looking to join the line and release dangerous flyer JP Pietersen.
For the Cheetahs: Teenage flyhalf Johan Goosen has taken the Currie Cup by storm this season and was the architect of the Sharks demise the last time the teams met, scoring in every possible way. Outside centre Robert Ebersohn can be a devastating runner and he will look to take the ageing Sharks midfield on. In the pack loose forward Ashley Johnson will want to get his side on the front foot with some big carries while the spotlight will also be on the young front row who be taking on an established combination that has done the business at Test level.
Head to Head: The tussle between Cheetahs skipper Adriaan Strauss and the formidable Bismarck du Plessis should be enthralling; both are destructive hookers who will not stand back to anyone. It will also be interesting to see how promising young Cheetahs loosehead prop Marcel van der Merwe goes at scrum-time up against Jannie du Plessis. Kankowski will be up against SA Sevens star Boom Prinsloo while Johnson and Alberts will both be keen to bash their way over the gain line all game. The battle between the inexperienced but ridiculously talented Goosen and French international Frederic Michalak at flyhalf will be intriguing and may prove pivotal, both are creative playmakers who have the ability to dominate but Goosen’s long-range goal-kicking ability may see him edge the wily Fench veteran.
Recent Results:
2011: Cheetahs beat Sharks 53-32 in Bloemfontein
2011: Sharks beat Cheetahs 43-34 in Durban
2010: Sharks beat Cheetahs 25-13 in Bloemfontein
2010: Sharks beat Cheetahs 30-16 in Durban
2009: Sharks beat Cheetahs 21-12 in Bloemfontein
2009: Sharks beat Cheetahs 24-13 in Durban
2009: Cheetahs beat Sharks 23-21 in Durban
2008: Sharks beat Cheetahs 22-10 in Durban
2008: Cheetahs beat Sharks 32-9 in Bloemfontein
Prediction: This game should showcase everything that is positive about South African rugby at the moment, with an interesting blend of talents on both sides. Both teams have what it takes to win, of that there is no doubt but we are going with the Sharks with all their power and home ground advantage to win by less than seven points.
The teams:
Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanché, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel/ Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Marcell Coetzee, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Philip van der Walt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Nico Scheepers.
Date: Saturday, October 22
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 14.30 (12.30 GMT)
Expected weather: Partly cloudy but no rain expected. Max 31° C Min 18° C, 20kph North Easterly wind
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Lesego Legoete, Marc van Zyl
TMO: JC Fortuin
By Michael de Vries
